Another great performance at the sold-out Alcott Arena for Guerri Napoli. Coach Magro's team win on Acqua San Bernardo Cantù for 98-86 and consolidated their eighth place in the standings, the last chance to reach the Coppa Italia Final Eight.
Mitrou-Long was the top scorer for the Azzurri, scoring 20 points and 10 assists on the court despite the flu attack he suffered this morning. The game was suspended midway through the second quarter to allow for the entire basket to be replaced, following a dunk by Basile.
Cantù gets off to a strong start with a 0-9 run. Simms scores the first Guerri basket, and Sneed makes it 4-12 from outside. MitrouLong and Gilyard exchange three-pointers, Ballo scoring from the free throw line to make it 7-16 at the half of quarter. Napoli scores with Caruso and Faggian, Sneed scores with a foul, El Amin brings the Azzurri closer with four consecutive points. Bolton ties the score at 21-21 after the first quarter.
Napoli takes the lead for the first time with El-Amin, Cantù for a short break, but Simms responds with a three-pointer to make it 26-25. A Dunk by Basile destroys the Alcott Arena basket, and play is stopped for a complete substitution. Mitrou-Long scores with a foul, Simms hits a three-pointer to make it 34-29, and Cantù calls a timeout. Cantù gets back on the scoreboard with Green, Mitrou-Long scores seven consecutive points, and Flagg makes it 45-33 on a fast break with two minutes remaining. Moraschini makes a three-pointer, Caruso dunks, and Flagg scores from deep. The second quarter ends with Guerri leading 51-40.
Moraschini scores, Simms responds with a three-pointer, but Moraschini once again brings Cantù closer before Mitrou-Long's drive-by basket. The court is evenly matched, with Gilyard and Caruso scoring, and Bolton makes it 60-48. Both teams score from the free throw line, with El Amin answering Green's shot, and Faggian scoring from mid-range. The quarter ends with Guerri leading 72-57 with a dunk from Croswell.
The Azzurri played well with Bolton, who scored on a drive, Bortolani and Ajayi brought Cantù back to within 76-67. Napoli called a timeout. Mitrou-Long scored an extraordinary lay-up, which, along with Simms, brought the Azzurri back to within 83-68 at halftime. Cantù tried to stay in the game with Bortolani, 86-76, but Bolton sealed the game. The game ended with Croswell's dunks, which set the score at 98-86. Alcott Arena celebrated with the Guerri players.
Guerri Napoli will return to the field next Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 6:15 pm on the pitch of Openjobmetis Varese.
Box Score:
Flagg 6, Mitrou-Long 20, El-Amin 10, Croswell 14, Faggian 4, Treier 5, Gentile, Simms 16, Caruso 6, Bolton 17, Saccoccia n.e., Gloria n.e.
Coach Magro:
"We're extremely pleased to have had another sold-out at Alcott Arena, and it's truly wonderful to play a game like this in this environment. We want to build something serious, and we need this support. It was a crucial match, another small step closer to the Coppa Italia Final Eight. Our minds are already on Varese, a crucial game to try to achieve this goal. We're deserving of respect for what we're doing. We started very softly; I chose not to call a timeout to let the team react. After the stop, we maintained control of the game throughout. Every player who took the field contributed. Now we're back to work with great humility toward the next match."
Naz Mitrou Long:
“It was a great game. The whole team played really well, I'm very happy tonight. I have to thank my teammates, the staff, and my family who have always been there for me. It's wonderful to win here at Alcott Arena.”